Ravel: Gaspard de la Nuit, Ondine - performed by Aaron Kurz

[Eikendae]

Hey Aaron, any fresh vids coming up?

[JuanCarlosPUCP]

Hola Aaron, te felicito por esta excelente versión de Ondine con una gran variedad de matices y planos sonoros. Has captado la magia de esa instrumentación. Es realmente un gusto escuchar tu música y ver que sigues avanzando y desarrollando el gran talento musical que tienes. Antes escuchaba la grabación de Abbey Simon, pero ahora me quedo con tu versión.

[Chrisy299]

I've thought a long time what I could write. Aaron,you´re so incredibly fantastic and such a great musician.The excellent use of the pedal without losing clarity, simply your nice way of playing.You understand to generate moods,timbres and different sound spheres.It reminds me of orchestral works like Debussy's L'Apres-midi d'un Faune or Ravel's Daphnis et Chloe.Your touch is so beautiful and also a feast for the eyes.And your playing is so profound.Thank you for taking time for this videos.

[tbkurz]

Dear Chrisy299,

Thanks for your great compliments! They really mean a lot to me. Also, I really enjoy listening to those two pieces you mentioned. I hope you continue to follow my videos, and thanks for watching this new one!

Sincerely,

Aaron

[pragmaticus123]

I should add, and I forgot to, that what really brings me back to your videos, time after time, is your humility. There are many many great players on youtube and many videos of The Greats"...but not all play with a subtle humility that I think the art requires. You do. I believe that humility when mixed with a knowing delicacy and subtle timing is what brings grace to the music. Never lose that humilty, Aaron, no matter how bright you will shine...for it will serve you well.

[tbkurz]

Dear pragmaticus123,

Once again, thanks for all of your wonderful compliments. I really appreciate you keeping up with my videos. I'm glad you thought this new video was worth the wait, and I hope to have another new one up in the next few months!

Sincerely,

Aaron

[pragmaticus123]

Welcome back, Aaron. I see that you never release a video until you are SURE that it meets your very high criteria. It is ALWAYS worth the wait for us...and this particular piece simply exemplifies that. You play with an amazing delicacy and subtleness...yet mixed with a power and clarity that is well beyond your years. This is a difficult piece, in terms of subtle gestures, and yet to my ears, you performed it flawlessly. Well done, my young Maestro. Bravismo.

[37benjam]

אהרון, אתה ייחודי. אני מברך אותך בכל לבי

[Eikendae]

Neat interpretation! I'll be following your videos as a guide for my own performances; thanks for uploading!

[pianowhiz1]

and also such remarkable touch! i love your sound!

[pianowhiz1]

Thank you so much for posting this beautiful music! Do you have any suggestions as to how to play the beginning part as quietly as possible? I am playing Ondine now, and seem to have a bit of trouble playing the right hand quietly without hitting to hard?

[tbkurz]

Dear pianowhiz1,

I'm glad you enjoyed my video! Playing the beginning softly still is not easy for me, but I've found the best way to practice it is to learn the beginning loudly and get the technique learned well. Then, over the course of a few weeks or a month, lower the volume. Hope that helps!

Sincerely,

Aaron

[pianowhiz1]

@tbkurz Thank you for your advice! Though it has taken a couple of weeks, I believe I have learned to play as quietly as I can, but I know for a fact that the best sound I have always achieved is when playing on a steinway. Is that the piano you play on?

[tbkurz]

Dear pianowhiz1,

You are certainly correct. Steinways undoubtedly have the best sound, but I do not have one (mostly due to the cost). I have a Baldwin.

Aaron

[capitalmusic]

AWESOME!  Lots of hard work pays off!

[tbkurz]

Thanks so much for the compliment, capitalmusic!

Aaron

[brittmusic]

Very beautiful. Very nice touch. You have put a lot of effort and practice in to this and it shows. Thanks for posting a high quality video with high quality sound.

[Alohaboii]

great!:)

[tbkurz]

Thanks, Alohaboii!

Aaron

[MusicMeddy]

Wow, this is such a wonderful interpretation and performance ( once again :D ) ! I can only stress again how much I admire your talent and playing and I can only wish I were as good as you at one point in time in my "piano-carreer"...

Honestly, great Video!

[tbkurz]

Dear MusicMeddy,

Thanks for your great compliments on my interpretation! I'm glad you enjoyed my new video, and thanks also for all of your continuing support!

Sincerely,

Aaron

[seasofpoppies]

Wonderfully fluid - though perhaps the dynamic contrasts could be sharpened ? Have you watched the videos on You Tube of Ivo Pogorelich practising and playing Ravel ? Might be worth your while . . .

[tbkurz]

Thanks for the suggestions, seasofpoppies! I actually have seen the Pogorelich videos, but I'll watch them again.

Thanks also for watching my video!

Aaron

[plvsbpb]

This is GREAT!!!! And will you do the Gina Bachauer competition?

[tbkurz]

I'm glad you enjoyed it, plvsbpb! I will participate in the Gina Bachauer competition later this year.

Aaron

[tbeibei]

Beautiful :)

[chobeethaninov]

It's nice to see some more recent uploads! :) I really like your delicate, fluid conception of Ondine (really remarkable)! Are you 16 now?? Will you be uploading the rest of Gaspard??

[tbkurz]

Dear chobeethaninov,

Yes, I am now 16. I'm glad you like my interpretation of Ondine! I hope to upload the rest of Gaspard, but I wouldn't expect it to be up until at least six months from now. I've learned the other two pieces but neither of them are remotely close to performance level.

Sincerely,

Aaron

[southerncrescent1401]

It's good to see more uploads again. Great job and a wonderful sounding piano.

[brandonscherrer]

Well Done Aaron! :)

[tbkurz]

Thanks, brandonscherrer!

Aaron

[ji94552]

Good job!